Exhaust cam and crank sensor mismatch on bank 1.
P0017 — also written POO17, P 0017, 0017 — is the OBD-II code for crankshaft / camshaft correlation (bank 1 sensor b). Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
Crankshaft position — camshaft position correlation bank 1 sensor B (exhaust). The ECU compares the crank and exhaust-cam positions and the timing between them is out of spec. In UK workshops this is nine times out of ten a stretched timing chain, a failed VVT/VCT solenoid, or (less often) a chain tensioner that's dumped oil pressure. Ignoring it wrecks the engine.
P0017 is a engine fault code, typically costing £400–£2000 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0017 actually feels like to drive
- Chain rattle on cold start for 2–5 seconds then quiet
- Rough idle, especially when warm, with slight vibration
- Loss of power / limp mode under hard acceleration
- MPG drop and slight increase in oil consumption
- Paired codes: P0016 (bank 1 sensor A intake), P0011/P0014 (VVT over-advanced), P0341 (cam sensor)
What causes P0017?
- Timing chain stretch
- Sensor fault
- Phaser issue
UK vehicles that throw P0017 most often
- BMW N47/N57 diesel (1/3/5 Series, X1/X3) — famous chain-at-back-of-engine failure
- Mini Cooper 1.6 N14/N18 (Prince engine)
- Peugeot 207/208/308 / Citroën C4 1.6 THP (Prince engine, PSA/BMW joint)
- Ford Focus / Fiesta / EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost — wet-belt / chain / VVT solenoid
- Vauxhall Astra J / Insignia 1.4T / 1.6T (A14NET, A16LET) — chain stretch
- Nissan Qashqai / X-Trail 1.2 / 1.6 DIG-T — chain and VVT solenoid
How P0017 is fixed
- Timing chain service
- Sensor replacement
The P0017 misdiagnosis that wastes money
Never — and I mean never — clear P0017 and drive on without diagnosing it. On BMW N47 and Mini/Peugeot 1.6 THP a stretched chain WILL snap and destroy the engine. Right test order: One — check the engine oil level and last service interval. Chain wear accelerates massively on skipped oil changes. Two — read live VVT/VCT actual vs commanded angle at idle. If commanded says +5° and actual is stuck at 0° or -3°, it's the VVT solenoid (£65–£180 part) not the chain — always try a solenoid clean/replace first on Ford EcoBoost, Vauxhall 1.4T and Nissan DIG-T. Three — if solenoid is proven good, book in for a chain inspection. On BMW N47 the chain is at the back of the engine (gearbox-out job, £1,600–£2,800 chain kit) — do NOT run the car if a stretch is confirmed.
What a UK garage should charge for P0017
Diagnostic + live cam-timing trace £70–£120, VVT/VCT solenoid clean/replace £95–£280 fitted, timing chain kit + tensioner + guides (accessible engine — Vauxhall 1.4T, Ford 1.0 EcoBoost) £480–£980 fitted, timing chain job on BMW N47 (chain at back) £1,600–£2,800 with recon oil-pump-chain package. Labour From £70/hr. Warranty-safe: always fit OE-spec chain kits (Iwis, INA, Febi) — cheap eBay chains stretch within 15k miles.
P0017 repair cost in the UK
Most P0017 repairs land between £400–£2000 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Bob's tip on P0017
On Ford 1.0 EcoBoost the P0017 is often the VVT solenoid oil-strainer clogging with sludge — a £60 solenoid + a good flush cures 6 out of 10 P0017s without any chain work. On BMW N47/N57 if you have any P0016/P0017 code the car needs to go in immediately — the chain is at the back of the engine and total failure removes the gearbox and often the head. The 'BMW N47 chain of death' is real. On Mini/Peugeot 1.6 THP always change to a full 5W-30 spec-approved oil and 8,000-mile intervals, not the 15,000+ dealers push — the chain wear on long-interval oil is what kills these engines. <a href="/ask-a-mechanic-uk?code=P0017">Ask Bob about your P0017</a> for £14.99 with make, model, engine code, mileage and service history — critical to know whether it's safe to drive or you need it recovered.
Can you drive with P0017?
Avoid driving.
Urgency: high.